GitHub export from English Wikipedia. [5] "Now when I walk in a bank," Trafficante says, "the president runs out the back door.". In his previous statements, Roselli also tied Lee Harvey Oswalds killer, Jack Ruby, to Santo Trafficante. "You hope things will just disappear two or three years from now.". It was also rumored that Santos was involved in a Mafia plot to kill President John F. Kennedy, though he denied there was any such conspiracy. In 1950, the aging Trafficante Sr. began to slow down. Departed this Life May 13, 2015 gerry,i am so sorry to hear about santo. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Like Trafficante Jr. before him, had many close calls with law enforcement, but always escaped serious charges. The American governments close ties to Santo Trafficante Jr. and the rest of the Mafia didnt end with their attempts to kill Castro. Over the next 30-plus years, Trafficante, Jr. rose to oversee Mafia operations across the state of Florida. [20], In 2005, Lamar Waldron and Thom Hartmann's book Ultimate Sacrifice said that Trafficante was behind an aborted plot to kill Kennedy in Tampa on November 18, 1963. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. He is currently working on his seventh book, The Jersey Mob., Feedback or questions? Try again. Until last year, the younger Trafficante had never been accused of anything more dramatic than bookmaking, a charge that a judge dismissed. He maintained all of the lucrative casinos in Cuba, further cemented, After Cuban revolution, the Mafia saw Castro as a threat to their business. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. Scott M. Deitche is the author of six books on organized crime, including a biography of Santo Trafficante Jr., and has written dozens of articles on organized crime for magazines and newspapers. Honorary Pallbearers are Joe Castellana, Malio Iavarone, FrankCookie Fava, Antonino Marchese, Derek Iavarone, Frank Albano, Drew Smith, Joey Hunt, Michael Sierra, Tony Marchese, Peter Albano, Mario Pullara, Frank Miranda, Dino Trafficante, and Joseph Trafficante. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. When you think of Florida and organized crime, it is difficult to avoid conjuring up images of Tony Montana in Scarface, or the heyday of Miami Vice. I will never forget him as a fellow stroke survivor. Don Santo Trafficante Jr was one of the last of the old-time American Mafia bosses in the United States. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Santo Trafficante Jr Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. based on information from your browser. He was known as an organized crimes figure. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. 0 cemeteries found in Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE CHARLIE WALL STORY Kingpin Charlie Wall (center holding bottle, right of child) and his notorious gang. His son was turned away from a date's house and his daughter has been refused jobs. "Sam Gold" was Sam Giancana; "Joe" was Trafficante. In the mid-2000s, he would say he was a legitimate businessman, citing his ownership of a car dealership, and employment at various restaurants and night clubs over the years. In the mid-2000s, he would say he was a legitimate businessman, citing, Tony "Joe Batters" Accardo - De Facto Boss of the Chicago Outfit, Giacomo Black Jack Tocco - Last of the Old School Detroit Partnership, Joseph Iacobacci - "Joe Loose" of the Cleveland Mob, John "Sonny" Franzese - A Colombo Family Legend. After his father died in 1954, he became the head in Tampa and took over his fathers interests in Cuba. Sorry! In the 1960 presidential election, Kennedy family patriarch Joe Kennedy Sr. used his ties to organized crime to secure votes for his son, John F. Kennedy. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. Who better than his son, Trafficante Jr., to inherit his throne? His son, Santo Trafficante Jr., took over the crime family and became tangled in a web of conspiracies to kill the leader of revolutionary Cuba and, it is rumored, President John F. Kennedy. Santo Trafficante Jr. was a reserved, modest man married to the same woman for 49 years. U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, Florida, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1823-1982, Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. "I still don't think I did anything wrong," Trafficante says. ). Santo Trafficante 5 10 (1.78 m) Born November 15, 1914 Tampa, Florida, USA Died March 17, 1987 Spouse Josephine Marchese April 17, 1938 - March 17, 1987 (his death, 2 children) Publicity listings 2 Portrayals Did you know Edit Trivia Represented by Frank Ragano. Read free previews and reviews from booklovers. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. Our prayers are with you. "[12], In 1978, both Trafficante and Aleman were called to testify before members of the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations investigating possible links between Kennedy assassin Lee Harvey Oswald and anti-Castro Cubans, including the theory that Castro had Kennedy killed in retaliation for the CIA's attempts on his own life. "My kids suffered a lot by it," he says. You'll learn about bolita, the rumored tunnels of Ybor, and the Era of Blood. I can answer any questions you . Organized Crime Figure. And the Trafficante Crime family found out that it had an unusual ally in their concerns about Castro: the Central Intelligence Agency. Chronicles of Events and Biographies Related to the American Mafia. As such, Trafficante Sr. controlled gambling rackets for bolita, a lottery game popular in Florida and Cuba, until 1940 when the murder of Tampa boss Ignacio Antinori pushed the Trafficantes to assume ultimate power in the Florida underworld. The seeds for Trafficantes most interesting historical chapter were planted, as the mobster would go on to have a well-established relationship with the CIA in an ongoing effort to assassinate Castro. One bank filed suit in November against him and a business partner, alleging that they defaulted on an $85,000 loan for a piece of property. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. They never returned. On the day that investigators raided Key Bank, a cardiologist at St. Joseph's Hospital was inserting a catheter in Trafficante's groin. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Florida Visitation will take place on Saturday, May 16th, from 9:30 to 11:30 AM, with service to follow at Gonzalez Funeral Home, 7209 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, FL. Desr Gerry, please know that I am thinking of you and never forget the kindness bestowed on me in my difficult time but especially the generosity and affection shown to my daughter and grandson. The other guys are two doctors, who say they'll testify if they're summoned to court. After a violent mob war left several of Trafficantes rivals dead or weakened, his gang rapidly rose to prominence in Tampa. Frank Ragano and Santo Trafficante Jr. (right). Santo told the state attorney, I dont have an enemy in the world. "I was the most expensive forklift driver in the world," he says with a smile. Email blog@themobmuseum.org. department.". One small gang, led by Italian immigrant Santo Trafficante Senior, profited from the illegal lottery-style games they ran across Tampa. wills o' nats last of the summer wine. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. There was an error deleting this problem. When his father died in 1954 he took control of these establishments. Several were wounded. prosecution, fled temporarily to Cuba. "My wife's got money. Fifteen years following the assassination, Trafficante testified in front of the United States House Select Committee on the murder of JFK in exchange for immunity. F. Kennedy not only failed to deliver on his promise to the mob but also actually put the Mafia under increasing pressure. Trafficantes father was the lucky survivor of what was called the Era of Blood, when rival gangs based in Tampa fought for control of Prohibition-era nightclubs and, crucially, the local numbers rackets called bolitas. Battling Mob rivals in South Florida essentially weakened each other financially and, through murder, the number of available soldiers. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. For all the power he wielded, Trafficante was often described as quiet and reserved. Trafficante Jr. was nonetheless a ruthless and old-school mob boss. Add to your scrapbook. Federal investigators brought racketeering and conspiracy charges against him in the summer of 1986. Their plans ranged from simply shooting him to having him smoke poisoned cigars or drinking a tainted milkshake. [13] Trafficante also stated that he had no recollection of meeting Oswald or Oswald's assassin, Jack Ruby. "But then you get into alias this and alias that and when they get you in court, you probably just create more problems," he says. RIP Santo. The charges of bank fraud against Trafficante and more than a dozen bank employees and customers may well be dismissed. The IRS was unsuccessful, according to Fernandez, Trafficante's attorney. There is a problem with your email/password. His abiding passion is food. The mobsters also attempted to get Castro into a poisoned wetsuit and even offered to blow him up with an exploding seashell. We cant help ourselves when it comes to watching mob films like The Godfather, Goodfellas, Casino and HBOs Boardwalk Empire and the iconic cable TV show, The Sopranos. At 76,. This browser does not support getting your location. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Some people also alleged that Trafficante Jr played a role in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy due to his anti-organized crime efforts, but Trafficante Jr. always denied it. However, there were events outside of the United States and even organized crime that inadvertently led Santo Trafficante Jr. to put his own peculiar stamp on American history. Santo Trafficante then categorically denied every allegation about stating he wanted RFK or JFK dead and got off scot-free. In 1954, Santo Sr. died of natural causes (at a time when some of his remaining rivals were still being violently dispatched), and his son took over leadership of the crime family. After Cuban revolution, the Mafia saw Castro as a threat to their business. And then there are the infinite conspiracy theories about the assassination of President Kennedy, many of them featuring Trafficante. "He's very creative in terms of the combination of things he eats," Alessi says. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. However, by the late 1920s, facing little pressure, Sicilian gangsters began setting up lucrative gambling and narcotics rackets. Santo worked closely with Lucchese family boss Tommy Lucchese, who was a friend of his father, and a man who helped train him in the 1940s. But Santo knew who was behind the killing a rival Mafia faction. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987 ). Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Cuban leader Fulgencio Batista in Washington, D.C. in 1938. The idea behind the assassination wasnt just to punish JFK but also to get his brother off the Mobs back. To add further credence to this theory of JFKs assassination, famed prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi (who also wrote the infamous true crime novel on the Manson Family, Helter Skelter), who penned Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, quoted a witness who said that New Orleans boss Marcello had quipped: The dog [JFK] will keep biting you if you only cut off its tail [RFK]., The final piece of evidence for the theory that Santo Trafficante was involved in JFKs assassination was a witness who reported that the mobster had once said himself that JFK not going to make it to the [1964] election. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. When the CIA decided to recruit the Mob in their efforts to assassinate Fidel Castro, they went to see Trafficante. He dropped out of high school and spent time in New York learning the trade from some of the countries toughest mobsters. Ed Giorandino/NY Daily News Archive via Getty ImagesSanto Trafficante arrives at Queens Supreme Court in Kew Gardens. He wants Trafficante, whom he considers to have an authoritative palate, to sample a new pastry that Alessi plans to sell at his bakery. Late in life LoScalzo denied any connections to organized crime. [13] He testified that he was brought into the plot by Roselli and Giancana, who had been recruited by Maheu. [8] Allusions to these historic connections were confirmed by the CIA's 2007 declassification of the "Family Jewels" documents. They lived in modest, ranch-style houses in quiet neighborhoods in Tampa and Miami. After a violent mob war left several of Trafficantes rivals dead or weakened, his gang rapidly rose to prominence in Tampa. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. [3] Trafficante moved to Cuba in 1955, where he came into contact with Batista and Meyer Lansky. At Boxer Cycle Works. As law enforcement pressure increased on the Mafia in the late 1940s, Santo, fearing. . [21], Trafficante was summoned to court in 1986 and questioned about his involvement with the King's Court Bottle Club operated by members of the Bonanno crime family, including undercover FBI agent Joseph D. "Joe" Pistone, a.k.a. For the U.S. government, it was a classic case of the enemy of my enemy is my friend.. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. But then came Key Bank, a massive drug-money-laundering investigation. Weve updated the security on the site. The wiretap evidence has been thrown out of court. Fla. (AP), Source: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/52792202/frank-cacciatore-trafficante, L'Unione Italiana Cemetery, Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Trafficante_Jr, Death of Santo Trafficante, Jr at Houston, TX. Send your deepest condolences with fresh flowers. I found on Findagrave.com. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Batista let Trafficante and other mobsters build as many casinos and hotels as they wanted in exchange for a cash kickback. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. In the 1950s, Tampas reputation for corruption and vice was so bad it prompted one national magazine to label the area the Hell Hole of the Gulf Coast. Given such negativity, who can blame people for just wanting to forget? In Trafficante's food chain, reporters rank only marginally higher than prosecutors and bank regulators, whom he likes to refer to as "rat bastards.". But the news was not good on the Key Bank front. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. [19] He claimed three witnesses could support his statement that he met Trafficante in Tampa, but refused to name them, adding: "One guy is afraid of retaliation. So, at his attorney Ralph Fernandez's urging, he has agreed to talk publicly, hoping to shore up his damaged reputation. My heart goes out to the family. Undercover detectives ran a gambling sting operation there, hoping to nab a circle of Tampa men they said were making illegal sports bets. I hold such fond memories of Santo & Gerry when I was growing up. Trafficante had been operating in Cuba since the late 1940s under his father, Santo Trafficante Sr., a mobster in Tampa, Florida. Over the next 30-plus years, Trafficante, Jr. rose to oversee Mafia operations across the state of Florida. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. On March 17, 1987, Trafficante died at the age of 72 at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston where he had gone for heart surgery. Learn more about managing a memorial . English My aim is to provide you with the best Service experience for you and your motorcycle. Try again later. "There's no such thing as organized crime in Hillsborough County," Trafficante says, clapping his hands for emphasis. [2] Trafficante Jr. would frequently meet with Lucchese in New York City for dinner.[2]. Upon his return to the United States, he became determined to bring down the man who ended his empire. My prayers are with all of you. [4] All were fined, up to $10,000 each, and given prison sentences ranging from three to five years. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/53540265/santo-trafficante. Sign up for service and obituary updates. Trafficante Jr. controlled his Tampa-based crime network for over three decades. Josephine Marchese Trafficante Our deepest condolences to the Trafficante family. When you start talking about organized crime, things can get dicey. "If my uncle knew I was talking to the press, Christ, he'd shoot me," Trafficante says, half-laughing. All the convictions were overturned on appeal in 1960. Authorities also said he urged former bank vice president Michael Pupello to impersonate him in calls to federal bank regulators. The Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a mission to advance the public understanding of organized crime's history and impact on American society. Rosselli later claimed to be involved with or to actually be a shooter in a Mob conspiracy to kill President John F. Kennedy, and some accounts have Trafficante involved in the alleged, and unproven, conspiracy. Mobster Johnny Rosselli, who worked for both Trafficante and the Chicago Outfit, was another associate involved in the unsuccessful efforts to kill Castro and, according to some biographies, was the man who put Trafficante and Giancana together with Maheu. The east coast of Florida was a loosely knit conglomerate of New York family interests with links to Meyer Lansky, Bugsy Siegel, Angelo Bruno, Carlos Marcello, and Frank Ragano. For the last 20 years, everyone knew her as JuJu. Indeed, a wiretapped conversation picked up a Key Bank official calling Trafficante a "sacred cow," with loans in excess of a million dollars. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Finally, in 1987, Trafficante died at the age of 72. She was an amazing daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend. "I'm in the I.O.U. Bankruptcy court documents show that Trafficante is owed $500,000 by a business partner. At this point in our collective history, we're not sure anyone would be surprised to learn that there is, in fact, something called The Mafia. What you might be surprised to learn, however, is how prevalent-even rampantorganized crime in Tampa was in the early and mid-20th century. But before Trafficante testified, someone conveniently killed Roselli. Santo Traficante Jr fue uno de los ltimos y mas poderosos capos de la mafia en Florida y Cuba. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Valenti hired his son-in-law at the produce company and allowed him to name his own salary. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. A car registered to former state attorney and current state appellate judge E.J. So, who was this so-called Silent Don who wielded enough power to allegedly kill the President? To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. In the early 1980s Trafficante was ensnared in two major cases that could have sent the aging don to prison for the first time in his life, apart from his time in the Triscornia detention camp in Cuba following Castros takeover in 1959. "[19] In his book Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Vincent Bugliosi has claimed there to be many flaws in Ragano's claims, including his own claim that Trafficante was most likely not in Tampa on the day in question, but was rather in North Miami Beach, Florida, receiving dialysis treatments. He was, in many ways, the archetypical old-school Mob boss. When you think of Florida and organized crime, it is difficult to avoid conjuring up images of Tony Montana in. Trafficante was arrested frequently throughout the 1950s on various charges of bribery and of running illegal bolita lotteries in Tampa's Ybor City district. [15], Ragano also claimed that Trafficante, four days prior to his death, delivered a deathbed confession which suggested that Marcello was meant to assassinate Robert F. Kennedy instead of his brother, the President. She was a native of Tampa, a second-generation Sicilian immigrant who grew up in Ybor city. Learn more about merges. We never paid cash. He was a well-respected boss, even among the far larger New York crime families. Thanks for subscribing! Trafficantes chance came in the 1960s when he became acquainted with mobster John Handsome Johnny Roselli. Don Santo Trafficante Jr. the godfather from Tampa, Florida, USA. Trafficante was born in Tampa, Florida, to Sicilian parents Santo Trafficante Sr. and his wife Maria Giuseppa Cacciatore in 1914. Born: November 15, 1914, Tampa, Florida We send our most sincere sympathies to the Trafficante family. He offered to pay $150,000 to have Castro killed, but Roselli declined any pay and introduced Maheu to two men he referred to as "Sam Gold" and "Joe." Santo Jr., who had inherited the leadership of the Tampa Mafia around 1950 when his father, Santo Sr., fell ill, had now completed his consolidation of power in Tampa and beyond. By the time Prohibition and the Era of Blood ended, he was the top man in the Florida Mafia, operating with the blessing of exiled Mob boss Charlie Lucky Luciano, Frank Costello of the Five Families, and Meyer Lansky of the national Syndicate. They raided my apartment, they were looking for money, they tore up all the furniture, they used to come and get me at nighttime, take me out in the woods, trying to tell where I had my money, this and that, until I finally went into hiding.. The men started to drive away when another sedan drove past the Mercury, the occupants unloading a blast of buckshot as they passed. In January 1963, he married Geraldine Valenti, the daughter. Santo Jr. was indicted several times through the 1950s but was convicted only once, on state charges in 1954 for bribery, and that conviction was overturned by the Florida Supreme Court. The twister killed hls mother when lt touched down about 6, honored Wednesday us the nation's sute legislator. Trafficante would be charged with bank fraud, perjury and disclosure of criminal investigation. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. "I think it's all bull----," says Trafficante's former horse trainer, Arthur Pedregal Jr. "It's only because his name is Trafficante. Trafficante took control of the Tampa mob in 1954 after the death of his father, Santo Trafficante Sr. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. "I thought all this would end when my uncle died. I will always remember your perseverance, happiness and smiles at Marisa's wedding. Or does he just look like one? Getty ImagesSanto Trafficante was wanted in 48 states by the time he was 43. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. Trafficante was a ruthless mob boss, and quickly consolidated control over the criminal networks in Tampa. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Florida Son of Santo Trafficante and Maria Giuseppa Trafficante We found ourselves in a love affair with Tony Soprano and we could not stop watching. You can always change this later in your Account settings. I am sorry I am unable to attend the services due to a illness. Shop eBooks and audiobooks at Rakuten Kobo. Mobster dies, two nations. If the decision is upheld on appeal, charges against Trafficante may be dismissed. He was the lynchpin in Tampa Charlie Wall The Kefauver hearings arrived in Tampa in December of 1950. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. Failed to delete memorial. And purchase valuable sports memorabilia for himself. Finally, after the infamous failed Bay of Pigs Invasion, the CIA gave up on their attempts to kill the Cuban dictator and thus Trafficantes attempts at revenge never materialized. Santo Trafficante was wanted in 48 states by the time he was 43. Trafficante was apprehended in November 1957, along with over 60 other mobsters, at the Apalachin meeting in Apalachin, New York. Perched on the edge of a leather chair in his attorney's office, Santo J. Trafficante III wears a pained expression on his jowly face. He walked outside and got into a 1951 Mercury sedan driven by one of his associates. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Scott M. Deitche, Mob Museum Advisory Council member and mob http://www.scottdeitche.com/books.htmlauthor of Tampa's favorite books, Cigar City Mafia: A Complete History of the Tampa Underworld & The Silent Don: The Criminal Underworld of Santo Trafficante Jror Manny Leto, previous Editor of Cigar City Magazine and Tampa historian, will guide you on a 1.5 -2 hour walking tour to old gambling palaces, street corners, and alleys where some mobsters met their demise, and restaurants where wise guys, like famed boss Santo Trafficante Jr, held court. President John. He was right, and when Castro took power in 1959, Trafficantes burgeoning gambling-and-drugs empire went under siege. But once Kennedy actually entered the White House, he didnt live up to his end of the bargain. Santo Jr. succeeded his father as the boss of Tampa upon his death. Husband of Private Thanks for your help! Passing before her were her parents Antonino and Sarafina Marchese; her beloved husband Santo Trafficante Jr.; her son-in-laws Augie Paniello and Richard Valdes; and her brothers, Bennie Marchese, Tommy Marchese, and Peter Marchese. This was proven in 1953 when he eliminated the last contender to the Tampa mob throne: Joe Antinori, son of the late Ignacio. There are few indicators that the family is still an active crime network. At age 16, he boarded the S.S. Lombardia and set sail for American in search of a better life. It wasn't somebody going into a back room to kiss somebody's ring. She was born on March 24, 1920. Another bank sued Trafficante and his wife in October for repayment of a $100,000 promissory note. Daughters: Mary Josephine Sarah Ann Brothers: Frank, Salvatore (Sam), Epifanio and Enrico (Henry) Uncle: Joseph M. CACCIATORE (convicted narcotic trafficker) CRIMINAL HISTORY: Santo Trafficante Sr. was a Florida mobster who survived a series of vicious gang wars to become the leader of a powerful Mafia crime family based in Tampa. She was a wonderful cook, and she loved to crochet and travel with her husband, but she lived her life for her family. His positioning in Florida was prime for drug shipping as the product often passed through these ports en route to elsewhere in America. Oops, something didn't work. [13] During his testimony, Trafficante also admitted for the first time that he had worked with the CIA from 1960 to 1961 for an attempt to poison Castro but stated that his role was only as an interpreter between CIA officials and Cuban exiles. Now in his late 70s or early 80s, LoScalzo is reported to be retired. This is a carousel with slides. Most mornings Trafficante spends a few hours at his modest wholesale automobile lot at the intersection of Dale Mabry Highway and W Broad Street. ". Early in Trafficantes federal court case in 1986, the judge declared a mistrial. And while cocaine-fueled Latin American criminal networks have been a serious problem in Florida for decades, the Trafficante familys illicit activities were quite infamous as well. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States.